Knitted fabric



April 19, 1938. c. MOSES KNITTED FABRIC Filed Jan. 30, 1936 S Sheets-Sheet 1 ins ' ATTO NEY c. MosEs KNITTED FABRIC Filed Jan. 30,

April 19, 1938.

2 W v v M s I, E m mh/ m mm N m 0 3 IM/W A U; q 5a a?! a a w H 1 r X f 1 4 Q xv lllllll l v p l A ril 1-9, 1938. c. MosEs KNITTED FABRIC Filed Jan. so, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR T Z ZU MMM fi/S ATT RNEY Patented A ale, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to multiple color knitted fabrics in which the surface of the fabric indicates two, three or more distinct non-plated colors.

Broadly, it is an object of this invention to produce a fabric in which the non-knitting threads are interlocked between the knitted loops comprising the face and back of the fabric.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to float the threads of which any one section of the fabric is composed across the other sections until the particular threads are called upon to produce a corresponding section and to inter-- lock the floats of said threads between the knitted loops comprising the front and back of the fabric thus eliminating long objectionable floats to produce a more serviceable and firm fabric.

Another object is to produce a more uniform and solid mass of color, if required in a fabric, by so interlocking the non-knitting threads so that a smaller and uniform percentage of color of such non-knitting threads are visible upon the surface of the'fabric.

Another object of this invention is to produce a fabric having a more substantial body due to the interlocking of two, four or more non-knitting threads between the knitted loops comprising the front and back of the fabric.

Another object is to produce a new and unique type of fabric by utilizing two or more threads having different textures and woven by my new type of knitting.

Another object is to provide an improved method of knitting whereby the aforementioned results may be accomplished.

The fabric is adapted to be produced on any conventional type of multi-feed knitting machine in which the needles can be moved selectively, either mechanically or manually, to welt, tuck, knit and cast-off" positions, or other means by which corresponding positions may be obtained.

The terms used throughout the specification and claims are hereby defined and explained to clarify my invention.

The welt position is the position in which the needle does not receive any yarn. The tuck position is the position of the needle in which the yarn is taken and held until it is desired to be castoif. The knit position is the position of the needle in which'the latch of the needle clearsall threads, such threads remaining on the shank of the needle, except that a single knitting thread which is being fed-in remains for the time being slightly above the hinge of the latch of the needle. The cast-ofi position is the position of the needle in which all the yarn on the shanks of the needles are released and the single thread of the knit position forms a needle wale or stitch, which is held by the hook of the needle.

For the purpose of describing this invention, the loop formed by the needle drawing down the thread Wl, casting-off the thread running between numbers and 25, I prefer to call the needle wale as shown in Figures 1 and .2. The loop formedby WI passing over the sinkers between numbers 25 and 26, I prefer to call the sinker-wale, also shown in Figure 1.

A welt sinker-wale is formed by the thread being laid over the sinkers, and the needles between such sinkers remaining in welt position, thus not receiving the yarn and therefore not distorting the sinker-wale which remains in a straight horizontal position, thereby joining the two adjoining needle wales, as shown between points 25 and 26 of Figure 1.

A tuck sinker-wale such as 40 and 4 I, as shown in Figure 2, is formed by the threads being laid over the sinkers, the needles between such sinkers remaining in a tuck position, thus drawing the yarn from a horizontal position and holding such yarn until "cast-off, and forming an oblique sinker-wale.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of this invention, reference is had to the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows the back of the fabric of a piece of the knitted cloth consisting of three threads, all greatly enlarged, in which the non-knitted yarns are interlocked between the welt sinkerwales and needle wales.

Figure 2 shows the back of the fabric of a piece of the knitted cloth consisting of three threads, all greatly enlarged, in which the non-knitting threads are interlocked -between the tuck sinkerwales and needle-wales.

Figure 3 is a combination of the weaves shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, WI represents a white thread, for the purpose of illustra-.' tion, which is knitted in needle-wales i0, i2 and I4, formed by the knitting needles drawing thread WI to cast-ofi" and welt sinker-wales II and I 3 are formed by the thread WI passing over the sinkers, known to those familiar with the knitting art, the needles being in a welt position. Thread WI. is interlocked at point 21 by sinker-wale of thread R2 and at point 28 by sinker-wale of thread RI and is then carried on in the back of the sec: tions Y and Z as'a non-knitting thread; interlocked by welt sinker-wales of thread R2 and needlewales of thread RI between points 2930-3 I--32 and by welt sinker-wales of thread B2 and needle wales of thread BI between points 343536 and 31.

For the purpose of carrying through a knitted course, I will select thread RI, through section X, and trace this thread RI through section Y, where said thread forms needle wales at the same horizontal level as thread WI and then through section Z.

Thread RI, acting as a non-knitting thread is interlocked at points 33, 39, 40, H, and 42 between the welt sinker-wales of thread W3, and

needle wales of thread W2, and at point 43,

wales I5, I1 and I9 and needle wales I6 and I8.

The thread is then interlocked through section Z, by thread BI at point 44, and at point 45 by thread B and at points 46, 41, 48 and 49 thread RI is interlocked between welt sinker wales of thread B2 and needle wales of thread BI.

Thread BI, follows directly below the thread RI and is similarly interlocked as thread RI through section X. From point 43, thread BI is interlocked by thread W2, at point 50. At points 52, 53 and 54, thread BI, is interlocked between welt sinker-wales of thread R3 and needle wales of thread R2. At point 55, the thread BI is interlocked by thread R2 and thread BI then becomes a knitting thread through section Z, forming needle wales 20 and 22 and welt sinker-wales 2I and 23.

Thread W2 is the knitting thread through section X, forming welt sinker-wales I0, I2 and I4 and needle wales II and I3. At point 56, thread W2 is interlocked by thread R2 and at point 51 by thread RI. Thread W2 follows directly above the thread BI and is similarly interlocked as thread BI, through section Y. At point 58, thread W2 is interlocked by thread BI and at point 59 by thread R2 and at point 6| by thread B2 and at points 60, 62, '63, 64 and 65, thread W2 is interlocked between sinker-wales of thread B3 and needle wales of thread B2.

Thread R2, is interlocked at points 66, 61, 68 and 69 between welt sinker-wales of thread W4 and needle wales of thread W3, and at point 43, thread R2 is interlocked by thread W3. From point 43, thread R2 becomes the knitting thread through section Y, forming needle wales I5, I1 and I9 and welt sinker-wales I6 and I8. The thread R2, follows directly below thread W2 and is similarly interlocked as thread W2, through section Z.

Thread B2, follows directly below the thread R2, and is similarly interlocked as thread R2, through'section X. At point II, thread B2 is interlocked by thread R3 and at points 10, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 11, the thread B2 is interlocked between welt sinker-wales of threadR l and needle wales of thread R3. At point 16, the thread B2, is interlocked by thread B3. The thread B2 then becomes the knitting thread through section Z, forming welt sinker-wales 20 and 22 and needle wales 2| and 23.

The aforementioned descriptions trace only six threads of three colors through three sections, X, Y, and Z, as shown in Figure 1, namely threads WI, RI, BI, W2, R2 and B2.

The following group of six threads are knitted in the same manner as the six threads above described and the next successive group of six threadsare knitted in the same manner and 2 following group of six threads are similarly knitted and such'knitting threads follow on ad infinitum. The sections X, Y and Z have been arbitrarily chosen and may be of different widths than shown in Figure 1 and follow vertically for the complete circumference or width of the knitted fabric woven on the various well known knitting machines used in the art.

Referring to section X in Figure 2 of the drawings, WI represents a white thread for the purpose of illustration, which is knitted into needlewales formed by the knitting needles drawing the thread WI to cast-oil and tuck position, and tuck sinker-wales formed by the thread WI, passing over the sinkers. Thread WI is interlocked at point 21 by thread R2 and at point 28 by thread RI and is then carried in the back of section Y and Z as non-knitting threads, interlocked between tuck sinker-wales and needle wales of the thread R2 and needle wales of thread RI at points 29, 30, 3I, 32 and 34 and by thread RI at point 33 and between tuck sinkerwales and needle wales of thread B2 and needle wales of thread BI at points 35, 36, 31 and 38.

For the purpose of carrying through a knitted course, I will select thread RI which acts as a non-knitting thread, through section X and trace this thread RI through section Y, where said thread forms needle-wales at the same horizontal level as thread WI, and then through section Z where it acts as a non-knitting thread.

Thread RI is interlocked at points 39, 40, M, 42, 43 and 45 between the tuck sinker-wales and needle wales of thread W3 and needle wales of thread W2, and at point 44, thread RI is interlocked by thread R2.

From point 45, thread RI becomes the knitting thread for section Y, forming tuck sinker-wales and needle wales. The thread RI, follows directly below thread WI and is similarly interlocked as thread WI, through section Z. Thread BI, follows directly below thread RI and is similarly interlocked by thread RI through: section X. At point 45, thread BI is interlocked by thread W3. At points 46, 41, 48 and 49, thread BI is interlocked between tuck sinkerwales and needle wales of thread R3 and needle wales of thread R2. Thread BI then becomes a knitting thread through section Z forming needle-wales and tuck sinker-wales.

Thread W2 is the knitting thread through section X, forming tuck sinker-wales and needle wales. At point 44, thread W2 is interlocked by threads RI and R2, and at point 45 by threads RI and W3. Thread W2, then follows directly above the thread BI and is similarly interlocked as thread BI, through section Y. At point 5!], thread W2, is interlocked by thread BI; the thread W2 is interlocked through section Z, between tuck sinker-wales and needle wales of thread B3 and by needle wales of thread B2, at points 5|, 52, 53, 54 and 55. At point 56, thread W2, is interlocked by thread R2, and at point 51, thread W2 is interlocked by thread B2.

Thread R2, is interlocked at points 58, 59, 60, 6I and, 62 between tuck sinker-wales and needle wales of thread W4 and by needle wales of thread W3. At point 63, thread R2 is interlocked by thread W3. From point 63, thread R2 then beand is similarly interlocked as thread R2, through section X. At point 66, thread B2, is interlocked by thread R3. At points 65, 61, 68, 69, 10' and H, thread B2, is interlocked by the tuck sinkerwales and needle wales of thread R4 and bythe needle wales of thread R3, and at point 12; thread B2 is interlocked by thread B3. The thread B2, then becomes the knitting thread through section Z, forming tuck sinker-wales and needle wales. i

The aforementioned description traced only six threads of three colors through three sections, X, Y and Z, as shown in Figure 2, namely, threads WI, RI, BI, W2, R2, and B2.

The following group of six threads are knitted in the same respect as the six threads, above de scribed, and the next successive group of six threads, are knitted in the same manner and the following group of six threads are similarly knitted, and such knitting threads follow on ad infinitum. The sections X, Y and Z have been arbitrarily chosen and may be in different widths than shown in Figure 2, and so vertically for the complete circumference of width of the knit-ted fabric knitted on the various. well known knitting machines used in the art.

Figure 3 shows one section of the back of a piece of the knitted cloth consisting of three threads, all greatly enlarged, in which the nonknitting threads are interlocked between the sinker-wales and needle-wales, comprising the front and back of the fabric. The interlocking of the non-knitting threads between the needle wales and sinker wales is a combination of the manner of interlocking the non-knitting threads, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Section Z, as shown in Figure 3, is a similar section as section Z, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and the characters which designate the threads are similar to the character designation of the threads in Figures 1 and 2. v

For the purpose of clarifying Figure 3, to show the combination of weaves of Figures 1 and 2, showing the manner of interlocking the nonknitting threads between the needle and sinkerwales, I choose to describe the interlocking of nonknitting thread W4, through section Z. Thread W4 is interlocked between the needle-wale 2| of thread B4 and welt sinker-wale 21 of thread B5 in Figure 3 in a similar manner as thread W4 is interlocked by needle wale 2| of thread B4 and welt sinker wale 2| of thread B5, as shown in Figure 1. Thread W4 is then interlocked between tuck sinker-wale 23 of thread B5 and needle wale 23 of thread B4 in Figure 3 in a similar manner as thread W4 is interlocked by tuck sinker wale 23 of thread B5 and needle wale 23 of thread B4 as shown in Figure 2. It is not my intention to limit the combination of altering welt and tuck sinker-wales, as shown in Figure 3 but to any combination which will give certain desired predetermined patterns.

While the fabric has been described with three threads representing different colors, it will be apparent that the three yarns may be identical or have some individual characteristics other than difference in color, such as glossy texture, a loose resilient thread, a dull twisted thread, a silk and cotton or wool combined thread, a thin and thick combined thread, a crinkled thread and so forth. It is also to be understood that the use of three independent yarns represent merely a preferred embodiment and is not intended to act as a limitation.

The term thread or yarn as used in the specification is intended to include threads of any type regardless of the material of which the same are composed or the cross-sectional contour of the same. Since certain changes in the construction of the above fabric may be made without departing from the scope of this invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Although Figures 1, 2 and 3 show different variations of knitting, I would like it definitely understood that the knitting as described in the above figures, is knitted by the same new principle I have evolved.

Heretofore, in fabrics knitted in multi-colors or threads of different characteristics, the non- .knitting thread, for a particular section, is first held by the needles in either tuck or welt positions and then knitted-off, all at the same time, thus forming the so called objectionable floats at the back of the fabric of the non-knitting thread.

In my method of knitting, the non-knitting thread is held in either tuck or welt or a combination of both tuck and welt positions, but instead of casting off all the needles at the same time, I cast-off only certain predetermined needles at any given time, holding the non-knitting thread on the other needles in either tuck or welt, or the combination of both tuck and welt positions.

At subsequent predetermined periods, I castoff the non-knitting yarns held by either the tuck, welt, or the combination of both tuck and welt needles, the non-knitting threads being interlocked between the tuck or welt sinker-wales and needle wales. By my method of knitting, the objectionable floats of the non-knitting threads are placed between the sinker and needle wales,

threads, each thread being knitted in alternate wales and floated past intervening wales in a part of the fabric and being incorporated unknit in an undulating manner under the floats of another thread in another part of the fabric.

2. A knitted fabric comprised of a' plurality of threads, each thread being knitted in a section in alternate wales and floated past intervening wales, thefloats of the intervening wales holding the other unknit threads in said section in an undulating manner between said floated thread and the looped thread in saidintervening wale.

3. A knitted fabric comprised of a plurality of threads, each thread being knitted in alternate wales and floated past intervening wales in a part of the fabric and being incorporated unknit alternately in an undulating manner in one wale and in a straight manner in the following wales under the floats of another thread in another part of the fabric.

CHARLES MOSES.

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